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BBSRC DTA Studentship: How do imprinted genes control fetal growth

Reference	BBS/E/B/0000L988
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Miguel Constancia
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Dr Gavin Kelsey
Institution	Babraham Institute
Department	Babraham Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	124,261
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/10/2005
End date	30/04/2009
Duration	43 months

Abstract

We inherit genes from our fathers and mothers and for most of our genes the copies we receive from either parent are equally active. An important exception to this general rule occurs in a process called genomic imprinting, which results in one copy of some genes being deliberately silenced. Imprinted genes are key regulators of placental and fetal growth. We are interested in the role of genomic imprinting in the placenta and its impact on fetal growth. We recently found that imprinted genes may control fetal growth by modulating the supply of nutrients through the placenta. This studentship will extend our efforts in understanding how imprinted genes control nutrient supply to the fetus. Initial work will be directed to establish correlations between expression (copying the DNA information into RNA) levels of imprinted genes, placental growth and nutrient transport efficiency, using the mouse as a model. Concomitantly, the student will use gene candidate approaches to identify novel imprinted nutrient transporters in the placenta. Subsequent work will focus on putative interactions between imprinted genes acting together to control nutrient supply.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Genes & Developmental Biology (GDB)
Research Topics	Diet and Health
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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